Self-deploying and self-healing subsea data network and method of use

Abstract

A self-deploying and self-healing subsea network comprises one or more homing vehicles, one or more data repeaters, and one or more independent guidable homing systems configured to assist the homing vehicles in localization of and docking with the data repeaters. A plurality of data repeaters are deployed in a body of water and, at a predetermined time, a homing vehicle released from a first data repeater and instructed to transit to and dock with a predetermined second data repeater. After docking, a network cable is operatively placed into communication between the first data repeater and the second data repeater.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-deploying and self-healing subsea network, comprising:
 a. a set of homing vehicles, each homing vehicle of the set of homing vehicles comprising:
 i. a homing vehicle transceiver configured to receive a signal from a data repeater; 
 ii. a set of homing vehicle docking connectors; 
 iii. logic operatively in communication with the homing vehicle transceiver, the logic configured to:
 1. decode an instruction present in the signal received by the homing vehicle transceiver; 
 2. determine an initial position of the homing vehicle; 
 3. instruct the homing vehicle to transit from its current position to a second position; and 
 4. monitor the progress of the transition of the homing vehicle to the second position; 
 5. receive updated signal data received from transceiver; and 
 6. use the updated signal data received from the transceiver for course correction during the transit; and 
 
 iv. a data cable; 
 
 b. a set of data repeaters, each data repeater comprising:
 i. a data repeater transceiver 
 ii. a data signal transmitter operatively in communication with the data repeater transceiver and configured to transmit a signal to a homing vehicle using the data repeater transceiver; 
 iii. a set of homing vehicle receiving connectors configured to be complimentary to the homing vehicle docking connectors and allow docking of a homing vehicle of the set of homing vehicles with the repeater; 
 iv. a connection point configured to operatively connect to the data cable; and 
 v. a data cable interface operatively in communication with the data cable and the connection point; and; 
 
 c. a homing system configured to assist a homing vehicle of the set of homing vehicles in localization of and docking with a data repeater of the set of data repeaters. 
 
     
     
       2. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein the data cable comprises a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
       3. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the homing system comprises an acoustic homing system; and 
 b. the signal received from the network repeater comprises an acoustic signal. 
 
     
     
       4. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 3 , wherein a data signal received by the homing vehicle transceiver comprises an acoustic signal. 
     
     
       5. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein the logic determines the initial position of the repeater with respect to a data repeater. 
     
     
       6. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein a homing vehicle of the set of homing vehicles further comprises a spool configured to allow the cable to pay out behind the homing vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein the data repeater transceiver comprises an acoustic signal data signal transmitter. 
     
     
       8. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein a data signal from the data signal transceiver comprises data representing a distance from the data repeater to the homing vehicle in real time. 
     
     
       9. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the homing vehicle receiving connectors comprise a plurality of homing vehicle receiving connectors; and 
 b. the connection point comprises a plurality of connection points corresponding to the plurality of homing vehicle receiving connectors. 
 
     
     
       10. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein the data repeater comprises an antenna. 
     
     
       11. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein the cable interface is operatively in communication with the network cable and each of the plurality of connection points. 
     
     
       12. The self-deploying and self-healing subsea network of  claim 1 , wherein the homing system further comprises an intelligent diagnostic management system operatively in communication with the set of data repeaters.